Apparatus for improved payout of wire strand from strand packages

ABSTRACT

An orifice of a critical diameter is provided in or adjacent to one side of a wire strand package to facilitate controlled payout from a package of stiff wire strand about a temporary core positioned within the orifice.

United States atent Hobbs et al. 1 June 6, 1972 [54] APPARATUS FOR IIVIPROVED PAYOUT [56] References Cited OF WIRE STRAND FROM S D UNITED STATES PATENTS PACKAGES 2,620,997 12 1952 L on ..242 128 [72] Inventors: Marcus E. Hobbs; Carroll W. Bonnet, 2 437 630 41948 imams et a] 24/2/54 both of Baltimore M d [73] Assignee: Bethlehem Steel Corporation Primary Examiner-Leonard D. Christian [22] Filed: Feb. 10, 1970 Attorney-Joseph J. O Keefe [21] Appl. No; 10,163 [57] ABSTRACT An orifice of a critical diameter is provided in or adjacent to [52] U-S. Cl ..242/l29 one side of a wire strand package to facilitate controlled "1365b 49/00 payout from a package of stiff wire strand about a temporary [58] Field of Search 242/128, 129, 105, 54; core iti d ithi the o ifi e,

16 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures APPARATUS FOR IMPROVED PAYOUT OF WIRE STRAND FROM STRAND PACKAGES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Stiff wire strand such as concrete reinforcing strand is frequently shipped in packages composed of a coil of strand held or mounted between two flanges which form protective sides for the coil of strand and facilitate its handling during shipment. The outside diameter of the coil may be protected by means of side shrouds mounted between the flanges or by a covering applied directly to the coil of wire strand.

The wire strand is usually paid off from the center of the coil through holes positioned in the center of the flanges. These holes also provide openings through which bindings secured about the coil can be severed after shipment and prior to payoff of the wire strand from the package. The size of these holes has traditionally been determined by a compromise between the belief that the larger the hole is the more efficiently the wire strand can be paid out and the obviously lessened protection for the coil of strand afforded by a large hole.

Since concrete reinforcing strand is used in a static environment for the application of high tensions over extended periods it is advantageous in order to decrease long term creep that the strand be as straight as possible prior to installation and have a high tensile strength. High carbon high tensile wire is thus used for the manufacture of such strand resulting in a very stiff and somewhat unmanageable strand.

By straight" it is meant that the stiff high tensile strand does not have any significant cast in it derived from reeling or other operations. The wire strand thus by virtue of its stiffness has a great deal of resilience and since it is straight or lacks significant cast is in an unstable condition when it is coiled in that it has a very great tendency to uncoil or straighten itself out again.

Extreme difficulty has often been encountered in paying out such straight resilient strand from the strand package because it has a tendency either to continue to uncoil itself or squirt" uncontrollably from the strand package once uncoiling is begun or to kink and snarl.

The squirting from the coil package is not only disruptive of orderly use of the strand but is often so sudden and violent as to constitute a distinct safety hazard to personnel working in the immediate vicinity of the uncoiling operation. Kinking of the strand not only delays operations but often renders lengths of the strand unsuitable for further use. Kinking usually occurs when loops of the strand, because of the tension on the strand during uncoiling, become progressively smaller and smaller as the strand is paid from the center of the coil until the strand finally crosses over the center of a loop forming a kink.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present inventors have discovered that the foregoing difficulties with the pay-off of stiff high tensile strand from a strand package can be eflectively obviated by the provision of a pay-off orifice having a diameter of between 8 and 14 inches and preferably between and 13 inches or such that squirting of the strand is inhibited and the provision of a temporary core clamped within the orifice to guide the strand from the coil without excessive decrease in the size of the loops of strand as it is withdrawn from the coil.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an isometric partially broken away view of a package of strand arranged for uncoiling according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view which shows the flanges of the strand package of FIG. 1 prior to placement about a coil.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation which shows the core of the invention separated from the strand package.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the core of the invention clamped to the bottom of the strand package.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view of an alternative arrangement for practicing the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIG. 1 there is shown a coil 11 of concrete reinforcing strand 13 packaged within a package 15 comprising protective members or flanges 17 and 19 respectively secured together by bolt type fasteners 21 spaced about the coil. A paper board or other suitable outer shroud 23, shown partially broken away to reveal coil 1 1, may be secured between the outer rims of the flanges 17 and 19 to protect the coil.

There is a circular or substantially circular orifice 25 in flange 17 of between 8 and 14 inches in diameter or more preferably 10 to 13 inches in diameter. Orifice 25 is positioned about the axis of, and preferably on an axis substantially coincident with, the axis of the coil of strand. A very satisfactory diameter for orifice 25 will be approximately 12 inches.

A second orifice 27 is located'in flange 19. Orifice 27 may have any convenient diameter, but a very satisfactory diameter is approximately 20 inches. This is sufficiently large so that access is readily had to the coil 11 to cut the bindings 29 with which the coil is secured during shipment, but not so large that the protection of the coil by flange 19 is significantly decreased.

The initial inside diameter of the coil 11 will usually vary between 25 and 30, and more usually 28 to 30 inches, this being about as small as is practical or advisable to coil the stiff concrete reinforcing strand. The actual inside diameter of the coil may vary rather widely, however, without affecting the operation of the invention and is not to be considered critical. The increasing diameter of the inside of the coil as the strand is paid out of the inside of the coil has no significant effect upon the squirting tendency of the wire strand.

As a practical matter the straight resilient strand cannot be coiled in too small a coil without placing a cast in the strand. The inside diameter of the coil of strand therefore will usually not be less than approximately twenty inches.

If the orifice 25 is larger than 14 inches in diameter there will be insufficient resistance to withdrawal of the strand and a very undesirable squirting tendency will develop in the wire strand while if the orifice is less than 8 inches in diameter a very undesirable resistance to withdrawal or uncoiling of the strand will be encountered.

The concrete reinforcing strand illustrated is a typical seven wire strand made from stiff grade 250 or 270 high carbon steel wire, or, in other words, wire having a tensile strength of 250,000 to 270,000 pounds per square inch respectively. The outside diameter of the strand is typically seven sixteenths of an inch to one half inch, these being the present standard sizes of wire reinforcing strand. However, the critical orifice sizes of the present invention are effective with straight resilient wire strand ranging from one quarter to three quarters of an inch or somewhat more in diameter.

The critical pay-0E hole size of 8 to 14 inches and more preferably 10 to 13 inches is effective to prevent the stiff wire strand from squirting from the package 15, but while of aid in this respect, will not completely prevent the strand from occasionally kinking as it leaves the coil package.

In order to avoid kinking of the strand a temporary core 31 is provided for the package 15. Core 31 comprises a circular base 33 upon which are welded or otherwise secured four upwardly inclined member 35, 37, 39 and 41 formed from flat stock and welded or otherwise secured to each other at their top portions to form a generally frusto-conical framework or core 42. As shown in FIG. 3 members 35 and 39, and 37 and 41 may constitute single flat straps of metal which are secured together where they cross at the top of the frusto-conical core structure 42.

Two foot member 43 and 45 are secured by welding or other suitable means to circular base 33 at one side thereof and an adjustable foot member 47 is slidably secured between oblong guides 49 and 51 by means of a threaded securing member 53 on the opposite side of circular base 33. Threaded securing means 53 passes through an elongated slot 54 in adjustable foot member 47 and is threaded into base 33 so that rotation of securing member 53 will serve to clamp foot 47 in any desired position within the range of its movement between guides 49 and 5 1.

At the extreme ends of foot members 43, 45 and 47 are welded angles 55 in the end of which are threaded holes 57 accommodating threaded, rotatable clamping members 59 which when tightened approach the end of the respective foot members to adjustably clamp upon or grasp any body which is interposed within the space between the end of the foot members and the end of the angles 55.

When strand is to be uncoiled from the package 15 the core assembly 31 is positioned within orifices 25 and 27 in flanges 17 and 19 respectively with the upper end of the frusto-conical core 42 extending slightly through orifice l7 and base 33 positioned just above orifice 27 with foot members 43, 45 and 47 clamped to flange 19 by means of clamping members 59. Foot member 47 is slidably adjusted as necessary in order to position the core assembly centrally within both the coil package 15 and coil l l and accommodate the foot member 47 to the particular size orifice in flange 19. At the completion of uncoiling the entire core assembly 31 may be unclamped and removed for use on the next package of strand.

As the strand is removed from orifice 25 manually or by any usual mechanical pulling means it is prevented from uncontrolled squirting from the package by the critical size of the orifice 25 and from kinking by the action of the core 42 positioned within the coil to guide the loops of the coil 1 1 from the package 15 without undesirable decrease in the size of the loops. The strand is released from constraint as soon as it has passed through orifice 25 as the top of frusto-conical core 42 is preferably positioned from just inside orifice 25 to only slightly above orifice 25.

if desired rather than orifice 25 having the critical dimensions of 8 to 14 inches, and preferably 10 to 13 inches, a supplementary orifice 60 having these dimensions may be positioned adjacent the orifice 25 as shown in FIG. 5. Orifice 25 in such case will normally be greater than 14 inches in diameter. lf orifice 25 is less than 8 inches in diameter the departure from the desired critical size cannot be remedied by the provision of a supplementary orifice 60 having the critical dimensions.

As shown in FIG. 5 the supplementary orifice 60 may be defined by a ring 61 supported directly above orifice 25 on a strand 63 mounted upon a heavy base 65. Ring 61 is preferably spaced a minimum distance from orifice 25 with its axis substantially coincident with the axis of the coil 11 and may be secured directly to flange 17 or even inserted within orifice 25 if desired to in effect reduce orifice 25 to the critical dimensions of the present invention necessary for properly controlled unwinding of stiff strand from a coil of strand. The core 42 is, for clarity, not shown in FIG. 5 but it will be understood that it will in fact usually be used in conjunction with the particular orifice of the invention at least in those cases where difficulty is encountered with kinking of the strand during uncoiling.

We claim:

1. An assembly for dispensing straight resilient linear material from a coil of such material comprising:

a. a coil oflinear material,

b. a package for said coil having protective members on at least two sides of said coil,

c. a first substantially circular orifice positioned in one of said protective members on an axis approximately coin cident with the axis of said coil, having a diameter smaller than the inside diameter of said coil and of such dimensions that squirting of the linear material through the orifice is resisted but excessive resistance to withdrawal of the linear material is not developed,

d. a second orifice in the protective member on the opposite side of the container,

a core positioned in the center of said coil with one end positioned near said first orifice, and

f. means provided at the opposite end of said core to removably secure said core to the protective member having said second orifice.

2. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said first orifice is from 8 to 14 inches in diameter.

3. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said first orifice has a diameter of from 10 to 13 inches.

4. An assembly according to claim 2 wherein said second orifice is larger than said first orifice.

5. An assembly according to claim 4 wherein said core is frusto-conical in shape with its small end positioned approximately in said first orifice.

6. A dispensing assembly for straight resilient multi-wire concrete reinforcing strand of from one-quarter to threequarter inch diameter comprising:

a. a coil of concrete reinforcing strand,

b. a package for said coil having at least protective flanges on the top and bottom of said coil,

c. a first substantially circular orifice positioned in one of said flanges on an axis substantially coincident with the axis of said coil and having a diameter of from 8 to 14 inches,

d. a second larger diameter orifice in the flange on the op posite side of the container,

. a core positioned in the center of said coil with one end positioned at said large orifice and the opposite end positioned at said small orifice, and

f. means provided at one end of said core to removably secure said core to said package adjacent to said large hole.

7. A dispensing assembly according to claim 6 wherein said first orifice has a diameter of from 10 to 13 inches.

8. A dispensing assembly according to claim 7 wherein said core of (e) is frusto-conical in shape with its large end positioned at said large orifice and its small end at said small orifice.

9. A dispensing assembly for multiwire concrete reinforcing strand of from one-quarter to three-quarter inch diameter according to claim 8 wherein said core is comprised of steel strap stock and said means to secure said core to said package comprises adjustable clamping means.

10. A temporary core for a strand package to facilitate uncoiling of strand from the inside diameter of a coil contained in said package comprising:

a. a base,

b. a series of metal members extending at converging angles from said base and secured together to form an open frusto-conical framework and c. adjustable clamp means secured to said base and adapted to temporarily secure said core member centrally of an orifice in one side of the strand package with said frustoconical framework extending through a coil contained in said strand package and approximately to the center of an orifice in the opposite side of said strand package.

11. An assembly for dispensing straight resilient ferrous linear material having a nominal diameter of from one-fourth to three-fourths of an inch from a coil of such material comprising:

a. a coil of linear material,

b. a package for said coil having a protective member on at least one side of said coil,

c. a substantially circular orifice positioned in said protective member on an axis approximately coincident with the axis of said coil, having a diameter of from 8 to I4 inches and smaller than the inside diameter of said coil such that squirting of the linear material through the orifice is resisted but excessive resistance to withdrawal of the linear material through the orifice is not developed.

12. An assembly according to claim 11 wherein the orifice in said protective member has a diameter of from 10 to 13 inches.

13. A dispensing package for stiff multiwire concrete reinforcing strand of from one'fourth to three-fourths inch diame ter comprising:

a. a coil of concrete reinforcing strand,

b. a container for said coil having planar protective flanges on both sides of said coil extending transversely of the axis of said coil,

c. one of said protective flanges having a substantially circular orifice positioned therein adjacent one side of said coil with said orifice positioned with its axis substantially coincident with the axis of said coil and having a diameter of from 8 to 14 inches.

14. A dispensing package for concrete reinforcing strand according to claim 13 wherein said orifice has a diameter of from 10 to 13 inches.

15. A dispensing package for stiff multiwire concrete reinforcing strand of from one-fourth to three-fourths inch diameter comprising:

a. a coil of concrete reinforcing strand,

b. a container for said coil having planar protective flanges on both sides of said coil extending transversely of the axis of said coil,

c. a first relatively large orifice in at least one of said protective flanges adjacent one side of said coil for withdrawing said concrete reinforcing strand from said package,

d. a structure mounted adjacent one of said protective flanges in line with the first orifice through said protective flange,

e. a second substantially circular orifice defined in said structure of (d) having a diameter less than the diameter of and positioned substantially in line with said first orifice through said protective flange and with the axis of said second orifice substantially coincident with the axis of said coil and having a diameter of from 8 to 14 inches.

16, A dispensing package for stiff multiwire concrete reinforcing strand according to claim 15 wherein said second orifice of (c) has a diameter offrom 10 to 13 inches. 

1. An assembly for dispensing straight resilient linear material from a coil of such material comprising: a. a coil of linear material, b. a package for said coil having protective members on at least two sides of said coil, c. a first substantially circular orifice positioned in one of said protective members on an axis approximately coincident with the axis of said coil, having a diameter smaller than the inside diameter of said coil and of such dimensions that squirting of the linear material through the orifice is resisted but excessive resistance to withdrawal of the linear material is not developed, d. a second orifice in the protective member on the opposite side of the container, e. a core positioned in the center of said coil with one end positioned near said first orifice, and f. means provided at the opposite end of said core to removably secure said core to the protective member having said second orifice.
 2. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said first orifice is from 8 to 14 inches in diameter.
 3. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said first orifice has a diameter of from 10 to 13 inches.
 4. An assembly according to claim 2 wherein said second orifice is larger than said first orifice.
 5. An assembly according to claim 4 wherein said core is frusto-conical in shape with its small end positioned approximately in said first orifice.
 6. A dispensing assembly for straight resilient multi-wire concrete reinforcing strand of from one-quarter to three-quarter inch diameter comprising: a. a coil of concrete reinforcing strand, b. a package for said coil having at least protective flanges on the top and bottom of said coil, c. a first substantially circular orifice positioned in one of said flanges on an axis substantially coincident with the axis of said coil and having a diameter of from 8 to 14 inches, d. a second larger diameter orifice in the flange on the opposite side of the container, e. a core positioned in the center of said coil with one end positioned at said large orifice and the opposite end positioned at said small orifice, and f. means provided at one end of said core to removably secure said core to said package adjacent to said large hole.
 7. A dispensing assembly according to claim 6 wherein said first orifice has a diameter of from 10 to 13 inches.
 8. A dispensing assembly according to claim 7 wherein said core of (e) is frusto-conical in shape with its large end positioned at said large orifice and its small end at said small orifice.
 9. A dispensing assembly for multiwire concrete reinforcing strand of from one-quarter to three-quarter inch diameter according to claim 8 wherein said core is comprised of steel strap stock and said means to secure said core to said package comprises adjustable clamping means.
 10. A temporary core for a strand package to facilitate uncoiling of strand from the inside diameter of a coil contained in said package comprising: a. a base, b. a series of metal members extending at converging angles from said base and secured together to form an open frusto-conical framework, and c. adjustable clamp means secured to said base and adapted to temporarily secure said core member centrally of an orifice in one side of the strand package with said frusto-conical framework extending through a coil contained in said strand package and approximately to the center of an orifice in the opposite side of said strand package.
 11. An assembly for dispensing straight resilient ferrous linear material having a nominal diameter of from one-fourth to three-fourths of an inch from a coil of such material comprising: a. a coil of linear material, b. a package for Said coil having a protective member on at least one side of said coil, c. a substantially circular orifice positioned in said protective member on an axis approximately coincident with the axis of said coil, having a diameter of from 8 to 14 inches and smaller than the inside diameter of said coil such that squirting of the linear material through the orifice is resisted but excessive resistance to withdrawal of the linear material through the orifice is not developed.
 12. An assembly according to claim 11 wherein the orifice in said protective member has a diameter of from 10 to 13 inches.
 13. A dispensing package for stiff multiwire concrete reinforcing strand of from one-fourth to three-fourths inch diameter comprising: a. a coil of concrete reinforcing strand, b. a container for said coil having planar protective flanges on both sides of said coil extending transversely of the axis of said coil, c. one of said protective flanges having a substantially circular orifice positioned therein adjacent one side of said coil with said orifice positioned with its axis substantially coincident with the axis of said coil and having a diameter of from 8 to 14 inches.
 14. A dispensing package for concrete reinforcing strand according to claim 13 wherein said orifice has a diameter of from 10 to 13 inches.
 15. A dispensing package for stiff multiwire concrete reinforcing strand of from one-fourth to three-fourths inch diameter comprising: a. a coil of concrete reinforcing strand, b. a container for said coil having planar protective flanges on both sides of said coil extending transversely of the axis of said coil, c. a first relatively large orifice in at least one of said protective flanges adjacent one side of said coil for withdrawing said concrete reinforcing strand from said package, d. a structure mounted adjacent one of said protective flanges in line with the first orifice through said protective flange, e. a second substantially circular orifice defined in said structure of (d) having a diameter less than the diameter of and positioned substantially in line with said first orifice through said protective flange and with the axis of said second orifice substantially coincident with the axis of said coil and having a diameter of from 8 to 14 inches.
 16. A dispensing package for stiff multiwire concrete reinforcing strand according to claim 15 wherein said second orifice of (e) has a diameter of from 10 to 13 inches. 